Bertone Design Looks for a Buyer

Italian design house Bertone is near collapse and may be sold to a Turkish buyer for about €2 million, according to media reports.

Carrozzeria Bertone SpA, once a famed European coachbuilder, was split in two in 2008. The company's production operations were acquired in 2009 by Fiat SpA. Fiat has used the unit, which has capacity to build 70,000 vehicles per year, to build its Maserati Ghibli and Quattroporte luxury cars.

Lillil Bertone, widow of Italian designer Nuccio Bertone, bought rights to the Bertone trademark four years ago and relaunched it as a design-only company that develops concept cars. But the business has struggled with shrinking orders.

Italian media reports say the design company has laid off its entire 175-member workforce. A court administrator is reviewing the Turkish bid. The reports say seven other potential buyers have expressed interest in the company.